The Charge and the Rout of Stephen’s Cavalry
As Baldwin of Clare harangued the royal troops—Stephen himself lacking eloquence—Robert of Gloucester sounded the trumpets for the attack.…
Stephen’s Stand and Capture
Stephen and his foot-soldiers were left surrounded, assailed by the enemy as if besieging a fortress.…
Matilda’s Rising Fortunes After Lincoln
Within three weeks of Lincoln, Matilda’s fortunes rose rapidly. Miles Beauchamp retook Bedford castle from Hugh the Poor; William Peverel was forced to surrender Nottingham; Herve…
Negotiations with the Legate and Entry into Winchester
Seeking above all to win the legate Henry of Winchester, her uncle and Stephen’s brother, Matilda bluntly warned him that if he would join her she would honour him as her chief co…
The Legate’s Council and Election of Matilda
The archbishop of Canterbury followed Henry’s example and swore fealty to Matilda at Wilton.…
Matilda’s Entry into London
The Londoners, the only laymen in the assembly, did not oppose the decision outright but pleaded for Stephen’s release and carried back a report to their fellow-citizens.…
The Fall of the Empress
Matilda’s triumph proved brief. Where Stephen had fallen through listening to worthless counsellors, Matilda fell through listening to none at all: a “very stern” temper, inherite…
KAPITEL VI.
Chapter VI chronicles the decisive 1141 turning point of the Anarchy, when Empress Matilda’s occupation of Winchester collapsed, her half-brother Robert of Gloucester was captured, and King Stephen was exchanged for him and restored to power.…
Bishop Henry Builds Wolvesey Castle
Bishop Henry Builds Wolvesey Castle In 1138, Bishop Henry of Winchester, nephew and namesake of the late king, resolved to rid himself of his inconvenient episcopal residence near…
Matilda Enters Winchester
Matilda Enters Winchester As the Lady Matilda rode into Winchester by one gate, Bishop Henry rode out by another to shut himself up in his newly built Wolvesey fortress.…
The Siege of Wolvesey Begins
The Siege of Wolvesey Begins The bishop despatched urgent summonses to all partisans of King Stephen, while Matilda likewise called up her friends, who quartered themselves in the…
Queen Matilda Lifts the Siege
Queen Matilda Lifts the Siege The bishop’s summons proved no less effective than the Empress’s, bringing up loyalist barons, a troop of mercenaries, William of Ypres with his Flem…
The Burning of Winchester
The Burning of Winchester Bishop Henry ordered the town to be set on fire; the wind, which spared the cathedral, carried the flames northward as far as Hyde Abbey.…
Robert of Gloucester Withdraws
Robert of Gloucester Withdraws Robert of Gloucester, recognising the hopelessness of the situation, resolved that he must get his sister out at all costs.…
Matilda’s Escape to Gloucester
Matilda’s Escape to Gloucester As Matilda had barely ridden through the west gate, the bishop gave the signal for attack from his tower at Wolvesey, and the queen’s partisans rush…
Robert Captured at Stockbridge
Robert Captured at Stockbridge Earl Robert succeeded in covering his sister’s retreat and cut his own way out in another direction, but was overtaken at Stockbridge by William of…
Robert Imprisoned at Rochester
Robert Imprisoned at Rochester Earl Robert was brought back to Winchester and laid at the feet of the queen, who sent him under his captor’s charge into honourable confinement in…
Negotiations for an Exchange of Captives
Negotiations for an Exchange of Captives The next six weeks were spent in negotiations for the mutual release of Robert and Stephen.…
The Exchange Agreed
The Exchange Agreed The queen threatened that if Robert did not yield, she would send him to Boulogne in chains for life, but he knew his countess at Bristol would at once ship St…
The Legate’s Council at Westminster
The Legate’s Council at Westminster Robert rejoined his sister at Oxford, while Stephen re-entered his capital amid general rejoicings.…
Robert’s Mission to Anjou
Robert’s Mission to Anjou Throughout the winter both parties remained quiet, Matilda at Oxford and Stephen in London, too exhausted to risk attacks.…
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